Building-construction unit



Dec. 2, 1930. J. F. LoUcKs 1,783,248

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION UNIT Filed Nov. 12, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l lll/111111 H iw ik 5% 6.

Dec. 2, 1930. J. F. LoucKs 1,783,248

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION UN IT Filed Nov. l2, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 2, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. LO'UCKS, CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 DETROIT STEEL PRODUCTS COM.'- IEA1\`I'Y,`V')AF` DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION 0F MICHIGAN BUILDING-CONSTRUCTION UNIT Application led November 12, 1928. Serial No. 318,608.

This invdntion relatesto the construction of deckunits comprising each a sheet metal foundation having hollow ribs projecting from one side thereof, with a covering applied to the face or side of the sheet which is opposite said ribs. The general purpose and object of the invention is to provide simple and effective means for securing the covering in place and to that end consists of a special type of fastener` cooperating with the said covering and the said ribs in a manner to enable the cover tobe applied quickly to a sheet metal foundation and at the same time secure the covering to the foundation in an efficient manner. j

With the foregoing general objects in view, the invention consists further of the combinations of elements embodied in the claims hereto annexed and shown in the drawings, wherein Fig. l represents a sectional view through a deck'unit embodying my invention; F ig. 2 an elevation of one of the fastening devices prior to its application to the deck unit; Fig. 3 a view similar' to Fig. 2, taken at right angles thereto; and Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are views similar, respectively, to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and showing another embodiment of my invention.

Describing the various parts by reference characters, and first in connection-with Figs. lto 3 inclusive, A represents a portion of a sheet metal foundation, the material employed for the foundation being preferably sheet steel and having formed therewith and projecting from one side thereof hollow triangular ribs each having a base B adapted to rest upon a supporting beam, and sides B which extend from the sheet to the base, there being a. slot C at the junction of the two sides and the base.

D represents a covering for the sheet, the said covering being indicated herein as of insulating material.

In order to secure the covering to the base, I employ special fasteners, one of which is indicated at E. Each of these fasteners is made of a continuous strip of soft flat steel bent to provide two opposed head members. each of which consists of an upper portion E connected by a bend with a lower portion E2 from which depends a shank comprising shank members E3. Extending upwardly from the bottom of each shank member and forming part of the complete shank is a tongue member E", the two tongue members being connected by a bend E5 at the top of the said members and the said members ointly forming a tongue the upper end of which lprojects above the upper portions E of the At a distance above the junction of each tongue member with the bottom of its shank member, said tongue member is provided with a weakened or bending line F, each line being conveniently formed by removing some of the metal in such member, as by horizontally grooving the same. The grooves F are arranged at such a distance from the junction of each tongue member E*L with its cooperating shank member E3 that, when the tongue is driven down into the plane of the head of the fastening device, the grooves F will be in the plane of the bottoms of the members E3, and the parts E of the tongue members which are below the slots F will extend horizontally outwardly, in the manner shown in Fig. l. To secure this result, the downward movement of the tongue whereby its upper end is brought into the plane of the iiattened head is approximately equal to the distance of the bending lines F above the junctions of the members E with the shank members E3.

In adapting the fastening device for use with the hollow ribs, the lengths of the parts E will he such that, when spread horizontally as shown in Fig. l, the lower portions ol the shank members E3 will be in forcible engagement with the inner walls of the sides B of the rib to which the fastener is applied.

In practice, a fastening device is inserted through a washer G and through an aperture H in the covering and thence through the slot C into the interior of the hollow rib below said slot. The operator then strikes the upwardly projecting end of the tongue with a hammer, simultaneously flattening the parts E and E2 of the head in the manner shown in Fig. 1 and bringing the top of the tongue into the plane of the top of the head. The downward movement of the tongu, causes each member E* to bend at. the groove l1` and to straighten the parts E" thcrehclow horizont-ally and spread the lower parts of the shank into forcible locking engagement with the interiors of the ribs to which they are applied. T he parts E then constitute a horizontal brace which holds the lower ends of the members E3 spreadapart and retains the lower portions of said "members in contact with the inner surfaces of the sides l.

The fastening devices are coniparatively inexpensive of production and, by constructing and applying them in the manner described, the covering for the sheet metal foundation may be secured thereon with great rapidity and efficiency. Furthermore, the closed bottoms of the ribs prevent access to the locking portions of the devices located therewithin.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6 l have shown another form of my invention wherein the parts A to D inclusive are identical with the likeidentified parts in Figs. 1 to The fastener in Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive is identical with the fastener shown in the preceding views with the exception of the manner in which the head is formed. The side shank members E3, the tongue members E5 and Fi, and the bending lines F are identical with the like-designated parts in Figs. 1 3. Irlfowever` the head is formed by a substantially horizontalflange E7 extending outwardly from the top of each of the shank members E3, there being a curved fiange E8 extending downwardly from the outer end of each'angc E?, the construction being such that a concave seat F.9 is provided at the junction of the fianges FF and Ff for diametrically opposite portions of a washer G. The washer will be applied to the fastening device by slipping the same upwardly along the side shank members E3, the diameter of the washer being somewhat greater than the smallest distance between the flanges Fis, whereby the said flanges will be sprung outwardly as the washer moves upwardly along the. shank of the fastening dcvice, after which the Hangcs Fis move or snap inwardly thereby to hold the washer in its seat. Because of this coi'istrimtion and arrangement, the washers are asscml'ilcd with their respective. fastening i'levices.. forming therewith a self-contained structure.

In applying the fastening device shown in Figs. 4 to 6 to a. sheet metal foundation and covering of the character shown herein, the shank is inserted through an opening in the covering and through an opening in the foundation A into the upper portion of a rib projecting from said foundation. Vhere the slots are provided at the tops of the ribs, the Shanks will be inserted through said slots; if slots are not so provided, they, as well as the shanks shown in Figs. l-3, will be inserted through suilable apertures to be formed in the foiuulalion. When in place. the upwardly projecting portion E of the tongue is struck, the tongue is driven down .substantially into the plane of the head Hanges ll, and the {fanges E8 are embedded in the covcring D. The downward movement of the tongue E5 spreads apart the lower portions of the shank side members E3 in the same manner as shown in Fig. l.

For convenience of description, it has been assumed that the deck unit and the fastening devices are used in the positions in which they are shown in the drawings, and the terms upper and lower and top and bottoni have been employed to define the positions of such parts as well as the positions of the parts of the fastening member but without any intention thereby to limit the use of the invention to installations wherein the deck and the fasteners may be employed only in the positions shown in the drawing. y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: l

1. A building unit comprising a foundation having hollow triangular ribs projecting from one side thereof, each rib havmg a base connected by converging sides to the foundation, and a covering for said foundation scoured thereto by a plurality of fasteners eX- tending through the said covering and across the foundation and into the ribs projecting therefrom, each fastener comprising a head adapted to bear upon the covering and a shank extending through said covering and across the said foundation and into a rib projecting therefrom, the shank having a pair of side members and the fasteners also comprising means for spreading the bottoms of the side members apart thereby to bring the lower portions of the said members into engagement with the inner surfaces of the sides of said rib.

2. A building unit comprising a foundation having hollow triangular ribs projecting from one side thereof, each rib having a base connected by converging sides to the foundation, and a covering for said foundation secured thereto by a plurality of fasteners extending through the said covering and across the foundation and into the ribs proj ectin g therefrom, each fastener comprising a head adapted to bear upon the covering and a shank extending through said covering and across said foundation and into a rib projecting therefrom, the shank comprising a pair of metallic side members, and a central tongue arranged between the side members and extending above the head and having means whereby, when depressed into substantially the plane of said head, it will have spread apart the lower ends of the shank members into engagement with the inner faces of the rib into which the said fastening device 1s inserted, thereby to retain the fastening device within the said rib.

3. A building unit comprising a foundation havinghollow triangular ribs projecting from one side thereof, eachrib having a base connected by converging sides to the foundation, and a covering for said foundation secured thereto by a plurality of fasteners extending through the said covering and across the said foundation and into the ribs projecting therefrom, each fastener comprising a head adapted to bear uponthe covering and a shank extending through said covering and across the foundation and into a rib projecting therefrom, the shank comprising a pair of flat metal side members with a central tongue projecting upwardly between said side members and above the said head, the tongue comprising a pair of side members integrally connected with the bottoms of the shank members, each tongue member having a bending line above the bottom thereof so arranged that, when the central upwardly projecting portion of the tongue is depressed into substantially the plane of the head, the parts of the tongue members below said bending line assume a substantially horizontal position thereby to force the lower ends of the shank members into engagement with the inner faces of the sides of the rib.

4. A building unit comprising a foundation and a covering of insulating material for said foundation secured thereto by a plurality of fasteners, each fastener comprising a head adapted to bear upon the covering and a shank extending through said covering and across the said foundation and beyond the side thereof which is opposite said covering, the shank comprising a pair of metallic side members and a central tongue arranged between the shank members and extending above the head, the tongue comprising a pair of side members integrally connected with the bottoms of the shank members, each tongue member having a bending line above the bottom thereof so arranged that, when the central upwardly projecting portion of the tongue is depressed into substantially the plane of the head, the lower ends of the shank side members will be spread apart thereby tovprevent the withdrawal of the said fastening device.

5. As a means for fastening a covering to a foundation having a triangular rib projecting from one side thereof, a fastening device comprising a head adapted to bear upon the covering and a shank adapted to extend through said covering and across said foliudation and into the rib projecting therefrom, the shank having a pair of side members and said device alsoromprising means whereby, on driving the said device, the bottoms of the side members will be spread apart thereby to bring the lower portions of the said members into engagement with the inner surfaces of the sides of said rib.

6. As a means for fastening a covering to the lower ends of the shank members into forcible engagement with the inner faces of the rib into which thesaid fastening device is inserted, thereby to retain the fastening device within the said rib.

7. As a means for fastening a covering to a foundation having a triangular rib projecting from one side thereof, a fastening device comprising a head adapted tobcar upon the covering and a shank adapted to extend through said covering and across said foundation and into the rib projecting therefrom, the shank comprising a pair of fiat metal side members with a central tongue projecting upwardly between said side menibers and above the said head, the tongue comprising a pair of side members integrally connected with the bottoms of the shank side members, each tongue `member having a bending line above the bottom thereof so` arranged that, when the central upwardly projecting portion of the tongue is depressed into substantially the plane of the head, the parts of the tongue members below said bending line assume a substantially horizontal position thereby to force the lower ends of the shank members into engagement withthe inner faces of the side-s of the rib.

8. As a means for fastening a covering to a foundation, a fastening device comprising a head adapted to bear upon the covering and a shank adapted to extend through said covering and across said foundation, the shank comprising a pair of flat metal side members with a central tongue projecting upwardly between said side members and above. the said head, the head comprising an outwardly extending iange integrally connected lo the upper end of each shank sid(` member with a downwardly extending flange at. the outer end of each of the li rst mentioned liangcs. the tongue comprising a pair ol side members integrally connected with the bottoms of the shank side members, cach longue member having a bending line above the bottom thereof so ar `anged that, when the central upwardly projecting portion of the tongue is depressed into substantially the planeI o l` the head, the bottoms of the shank side members will be forced apart thereby, and a washer surrounding the upper portions of the shank side members and retained in place by and between the downwardly extending head flanges.

9. As a means for fastening a covering to a foundation, a fastening device comprising a head adapted to bear upon the coveringr and a shank adapted to extend through said covering and across said foundation, the shank comprising a pair of flat metal side members with a central tongue projecting upwardly between said side members and above the said head, the head comprisingr an outwardly extending flange integrally connected to the upper end of each shank side member with an inwardly and downwardly extending flange at the outer end of each of the first mentioned flanges, the tongue comprising a pair of side members integrally connected with the bottoms of t-he shank side members, each tongue member having a bending line above the bottom thereof so arranged that, when the central upwardly projecting portion of the tongue is depressed into substantially the plane of the head, the bottoms of the shank side members will be forced apart thereby, and a washer surrounding the upper Sli p ortions of the shank side members and seated at the junctions of the outwardly and downwardly extending head anges.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

' JAMES F. LOUCKS. 

